Josh McEachran is hoping his injury-hit six months are behind him and he is looking to reach new heights in 2016.

The midfielder ended a 15-year association with Chelsea last summer to move to Brentford on a permanent deal.

His first few months at Griffin Park were one for him to forget after breaking his foot in pre-season training after just two friendlies.

But, after returning to fitness, McEachran is hoping to push on and help the Bees maintain their promotion push.

He said: “Looking at 2016, it has been a difficult last six months since breaking my foot but the end of last season was good at Vitesse, we got into Europe.

“I need to keep going now, keep my fitness up and hopefully I can get another start at Birmingham on Saturday and push on from there.”

Josh McEachran of Brentford poses with servicemen to show his support for London Poppy Day at Leadenhall Market in London

McEachran has previously had loan spells at Swansea, Middlesbrough, Watford, Wigan and Vitesse Arnhem before leaving Stamford Bridge for good in 2015.

Chelsea, though, have a wide range of young players on their books out on loan, including Brentford midfielder John Swift, and McEachran believes they need to play as well as they can to impress Eddie Newton and the next permanent Chelsea manager.

He added: “Obviously I made the decision to leave Chelsea after a few loans out, and there were other players in that position against Reading.

“I would just say to them to keep playing how they are playing. Swifty is doing really well for us, and Lucas (Piazon) and Michael (Hector) for Reading, so that’s what they need to do, and show the new Chelsea manager what they can do if they go back.

Doing well: John Swift

“I had gone out a few times but when I came to Brentford and met the chairman I wanted to play his style of football.

“I wanted to play every week and get settled. I had been at Chelsea since I was seven and I just thought it was time for a new chapter.

“It was a tough decision, I am a Chelsea fan and I had been there for such a long time. But I am very happy to be at Brentford, they are playing great football and I am really enjoying it.

“Sometimes you have to take step back to go forward again, you are never going to walk into that Chelsea team.”